Your Question: Wasn’t the Stillwater Bridge Just Fixed?

Patch users have been asking us: Wasn’t the Stillwater Lift Bridge just repaired last year?

The answer: Yes, it was.

The $3.4 million Stillwater Lift Bridge rehab project began in July of 2012 and included repair of the historic bridge's steel, concrete, electrical and mechanical components, as well as, guardrail, curb and gutter replacement and painting. The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) closed the book on that repair in December of last year.

Yet, despite all this, a cable failure last night around 8 p.m. has the bridge stuck in the “lowered” position, making passage for “tall” boats on the St. Croix River now impossible.

And on such a perfect day.

The Stillwater Lift Bridge rehabilitation project was needed, MnDOT stated, to maintain a safe crossing and to preserve the bridge until it can be converted to a bike and pedestrian facility in 2017.

An entire scope of MnDOT’s  Stillwater Lift Bridge Management Plan can be found on the state’s website.

The bridge was also repaired in 2005.

MnDOT spokespeople said yesterday a repair to the bridge will be made this week, and should not impact vehicle traffic on Highway 36.